Fraud suspect, who duped people through social media, in police net

Breaking News January 20, 2019 18:45

By Kittipong Maneerit
The Nation

A 37-year-old Thai man was arrested for using social media to befriend at least 10 people and allegedly dupe them of money before fleeing, Metropolitan Police Division 5 chief Pol Maj-General Mongkol Warunno said.

The suspect Kittipop Saelao, who faces an arrest warrant for fraud issued by the Phra Nakhon Tai district court on March 16, 2018, was arrested at a rented house in Nong Khaem district on Sunday. Kittipop reportedly confessed to committing the crime to earn money for spending and to buy illicit drugs.

The police investigation that led to this arrest followed complaints from many alleged victims at police precincts nationwide. The complainants said they were duped by a man whose Facebook screen-name was “Saelao Kittipop”. He sold cheap goods online such as motorcycles, motorcycle parts and amulets and chatted up with the victims who then wired the money to him only to find him later block them. Some victims had posted their experience about being duped to caution others.

A police probe found that Kittipop reportedly targeted young women by making false claims of being a man with a well-paid job. He would befriend them until they allowed him to stay with them at home. He would then borrow some cash or a motorcycle from them for an errand and never return.

Kittipop reportedly told police he had stolen four motorcycles in this way. When he was arrested, the suspect was staying at another female victim’s rented house in Nong Khaem.

Police have urged other victims to step forward and file complaints at the Thong Lor Police Station.